I READ your article “Confidence as Buccleuch community buyout vote takes place” by Kirsteen Paterson (August 10) with very mixed feelings. It states that “residents of Scotland’s highest village will go to the polls tomorrow to decide whether or not to buy almost 4000 acres from one of Scotland’s biggest landowners”.
It seems that the Duke of Buccleuch has said he will sell 3860 acres of his Queensberry Estate to the Dumfries and Galloway community of Wanlockhead. The offer is expected to come with a price tag of around £1.4 million. The current Duke of Buccleuch, Richard Scott, the 10th Duke, is the largest private landowner in Scotland with some 280,000 acres of land.
READ MORE: Confidence as Buccleuch community buyout vote takes place
I am reminded of the words of a song – Solid Ground by Dougie McLean: “You cannot own the land, the land owns you”. I have not the time or the inclination to find out how the Duke has managed to acquire 280,000 acres of land but I doubt it was by the sweat of his brow, or by personal enterprise. I suspect a rummage in the history of his ancestors would reveal a sorry tale of privilege and feudal dealings.
The Scottish Land Fund is a programme which supports community organisations across Scotland to own land, buildings and other assets. It is funded by the Scottish Government and grants of up to £1 million are available. The current programme runs from 2016-2021 with an annual budget of £10m.
I wish the community of Wanlockhead every success in their endeavours. It’s a pity the Duke is not as ambitious as them in his outlook and plans for local communities. The thought of the hard-earned taxes of the people of Scotland adding to the already substantial bank balance of the Duke is a very bitter pill to swallow.
Radical changes to inheritance tax and/or the introduction of Annual Ground Rent are very very long overdue.
Brian Lawson
Paisley
CONGRATULATIONS to Kenneth Sutherland for his letter highlighting breaches of the Scottish Government’s advice on PPE in relation to shops, hairdressers and salons (Letters, August 10).
Recently I went to the hairdresser in the neighbouring village of Buchlyvie to have my 16-week-plus “Lockdown” hair style changed.
I had made an appointment for early afternoon and when I arrived wearing my mask the only other person in the salon was the hairdresser, with face mask and PPE. I was “invited” to avail myself of the hand sanitiser. Having been in lockdown I enjoyed the experience, and when I left I was told that the next client was due in ten minutes and this was to give time to sanitise the salon.
READ MORE: Letters, August 10
I was a little surprised that the charge had not increased, but it is not illegal to increase the gratuity in recognition of the additional effort and expense incurred by the hairdresser.
Following the Scottish Government’s advice protects the customers, the employees and the wider community. Once again congratulations to Kenneth Sutherland, and I hope that his letter will encourage others to be equally vigilant and to reflect on “the price of freedom is eternal vigilance”.
Thomas L Inglis
Fintry
I KNOW it’s a bit premature before she actually takes her seat in the House of Lords, but I do hope First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP MSPs always address Scottish Conservative makeshift leader Ruth Davidson in the Scottish Parliament by her aristocratic title of Baroness Davidson (bow, doff cap, tug forelock). They also might press her to explain in detail exactly how she intends to actually “democratise the House of Lords” (as she claims) by taking a seat there and pocketing an allowance from the taxpayer of £305 per day.
John Hedges
Rutherglen
THE remit of the Scottish Parliamentary inquiry into the handling of the complaints against Alex Salmond is to “consider and report on the actions of the First Minister, Scottish Government officials and special advisors in dealing with complaints about Alex Salmond”.
READ MORE: Scottish Government refuses to submit evidence to Salmond inquiry
Can someone explain to me how it is possible for the Scottish Government to state that it will “not hand over evidence relating to Alex Salmond’s judicial review action to a Holyrood inquiry”? (Salmond evidence to be held back, August 7). Surely their evidence is absolutely central to the inquiry. Have they been taking lessons from the UK Government?
Alison Fraser
Inverness
If Douglas Ross does not know that his own army are in Aberdeen, we are in the brown claggy stuff should he ever become Minister of Defence.
M Ross
Aviemore
THIS evening I will put a tea light, in a red glass, in my window to show my solidarity with those faced with losing their jobs in the entertainment industry. Sadly, there is little else I can do.
Rachel Martin
Musselburgh
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